Teacher Preparation Program Receives Partnership Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2002
Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Terri Davis, Professional Studies in Education
530-898-6852
Teacher Preparation Program Receives Partnership Award
The Concurrent Teacher Preparation Program in the Department of Professional Studies in Education, California State University, Chico, has received this year’s “Quality Education Partnership Award” from the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE).
Each year CCTE honors two teacher education programs—one in southern California and one in northern California—that exemplify collaborative efforts between a college/university and a K-12 school district.
The Concurrent Program, in its seventh year of operation, simultaneously prepares students to receive their multiple subject teaching credential and the level I special education credential. Approximately 25 candidates enter the program each fall and participate in two graduate level semesters of integrated course work and student teaching. Twenty-two students will complete the program this coming June.
The Concurrent Program has been awarded U.S. Department of Education funding to support candidates with scholarships because of the unique program design and quality of faculty and preparation components. The program is a direct response to the need for high-quality special educators in this region, as well as in the entire state of California.
“The graduates of the Concurrent Program have multiple job offers because of their dual preparation in general and special education,” said Terri Davis, coordinator of the program and director of Special Education.
The design of the program depends on the partnership between Professional Studies in Education and the Northeastern California Partnership for Special Education. The Partnership Advisory Board represents 43 school districts and county offices of education in 14 counties of northeastern California. The partnership forms a strong regional network of special education professionals.
The award was presented at the spring CCTE conference on April 12 in San Jose and was received by Jim Richmond, chair, Department of Professional Studies in Education; Teresa Davis, coordinator of the Concurrent Program and director of Special Education; Lisa Churchill, coordinator of the Special Education Internship in Mild/Moderate Disabilities; and Michelle Cepello, coordinator of the Special Education Internship in Moderate/Severe Disabilities.
“This award is long overdue as recognition of the hard work, innovation and dedication of the special education faculty. Credit is due to Mary Jensen, retired director of Special Education, who originally conceived the program design, and to Lisa Churchill, who worked with Jensen for the first federal funding of the Program in 1994,” said Stephen King, dean of the college of Communication and Education.
This is the third time that one of CSU, Chico’s teacher preparation programs has been recognized by CCTE as an exemplary program. The Tri-Placement program, which links theory with practice by placing student teachers in a variety of educational settings with students from diverse backgrounds, has been honored twice by CCTE. Tri-Placement provides a K-12 multiple subject credential with a Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) emphasis.
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